Kissing Booth Double Layer Half Apron with Pockets, Tucks & More

Editor: Liz Johnson

Monday, 07 January 2013 1:00

We're getting ready early for Valentine's Day with a series of four projects in the brand new Kissing Booth by BasicGrey for Moda Fabrics. We're big BasicGrey fans here at S4H, and so were anxious to work with their latest collection. The colors are traditional Valentine's favorites: plenty of reds, pinks, creams and browns, but we loved how the tones were richer and warmer than usual, and they sound so delicious: Cherry Cordial, Candy Pink,Crème Brûlée and Chocolate. The motifs have a softly vintage feel, as if you've discovered a treasure box of love letters tucked inside an ancient trunk. Yet there's nothing old-fashioned; the lines are clean and fresh. Today's elegant half apron features Dozen Roses in Cherry Cordial, a dense crush of watercolor roses with a textured lace overlay. We added jaunty oval pockets, pretty tucks and a rick rack hem. Pretty sweet style, don't you think?

Our thanks to Moda Fabrics for sponsoring our wonderful Winter series. We've brought you over three weeks of projects and how-to tutorials that helped you through the holidays and now have you thinking about your 2013 sewing resolutions. Stay tuned for a Great Giveaway this Friday, featuring pre-cuts from some of the collections you've seen.

There are two ways to attach the pockets - before gathering or after gathering and adding the waistband. We chose the second option. We always recommend reading through the instructions a couple of times before your jump in, but in this case, it is really necessary to determine the pocket option you want to use.

Getting Started

Click the Buy Pattern button below to get the pattern sheet(s) required for this tutorial. The pattern, which includes instructions, is $1.99.

(buy pattern button)

IMPORTANT: Our patterns are sized to print on standard 8½" x 11" paper. You must print the PDF file(s) at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page. There is a guide rule on each sheet so you can confirm your final printout is to scale.

Cut out the pattern piece along the solid line.

From the fabric for the skirt's top layer, the ties and the pockets (Dozen Roses in Cherry Cordial in our sample), cut the following:ONE 36" wide x 19" high rectangle for the top skirt layerTWO 8" x 31" strips for the tiesUsing the pattern, cut FOUR pocket pieces

From the fabric for the skirt's bottom layer, bottom facing and waistband (Sweet Nothings in Chocolate in our sample), cut the following:ONE 36" wide x 18" high rectangle for the bottom skirt layerONE 36" wide x 3" high rectangle for the bottom facingONE 22" x 5" strip for the waistband

From the interfacing, cut the following:ONE 2" x 21" stripUsing the pattern, cut TWO pocket pieces

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Top skirt layer

Find the top skirt panel.

Finish the sides and bottom edge of the skirt panel with a narrow ¼" double turn hem. To do this, fold the raw edge in ¼" and press, then turn under an additional ¼" and press again. Stitch in place, staying close to the inside folded edge. We used our Janome Quarter Inch Seam foot.

Create a crisp fold at each corner. NOTE: For more information on this type of narrow hem and the steps to create a pretty corner, see our tutorial: ¼" Double-Turn Clean Finished Corners.

Stitched down tucks

We used pins for our marking. You can use the same or draw your marks with a fabric pen or pencil. If you use a marking pen or pencil, make sure it is one that will wipe away easily or vanish with exposure to the air - you are working on the right side of the fabric.

From the bottom hemmed edge of the skirt panel, measure up 1½" and mark. Measure ½" up from this first mark and place a second mark.

Measure 1½" up from the second mark and place a third mark. Measure ½" up from the third mark and place a fourth mark.

Measure 1½" up from the fourth mark and place a fifth mark. Measure ½" up from the fifth mark and place a sixth mark.

Repeat these six marks horizontally across the apron panel, spacing the sets of marks about every 5-6".

Starting with the markings closest to the bottom of the skirt, fold the fabric wrong sides together, aligning the two marks to create a ½" tuck. Slide out one horizontal pin and replace it vertically to hold the fold together. Press in place.

Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch the tuck in place across the entire width of the skirt.

Press the tuck down towards the bottom of the skirt.

Repeat to create a second tuck at the second pair of pins.

And, again at the third pair of pins.

Bottom skirt layer

Find the bottom skirt panel. Press up the bottom raw edge ½".

Cut a 35" length of rick rack.

Pin the rick rack along the bottom edge so the fold runs through the center of the rick rack "waves."

The rick rack should end ½" from each side.

Finish the sides of the skirt panel with a narrow ¼" double turn hem. As above, to do this, fold the raw edge in ¼" and press, then turn under an additional ¼" and press again. You will encase the raw ends of the rick rack within the double fold. Just pin in place; do not stitch the sides yet.

Bottom facing

Place the bottom skirt panel wrong side up on your work surface. Place the pressed facing right side up along the bottom edge of the skirt panel, aligning the facing's folded edges with the bottom and sides of the skirt panel. Pin in place around all four sides of the facing.

Flip over the skirt panel.

Topstitch along the bottom, staying ¼" from the folded edge. This seam secures the rick rack and the bottom edge of the facing.

Stitch down each side of the skirt panel, securing the side hems as well as the side edges of the facing.

The top edge of the facing remains lightly pinned in place.

Gather the skirt panels

NOTE: As mentioned above, You can either put pockets on now before you gather or way down the line after gathering and attaching the waistband. We chose to put the pockets on after we attached the skirt to the waistband so we could be a bit fussier about their angled placement. If you want to put them on before gathering, here are the measurements: the pockets sit at a slight angle with the bottom of the pocket 2" from the bottom of the first pleat. The outer edges are 6⅜" from the side hems and the inner edges are 5½" from the center of the skirt. Pin each pocket in place, starting and stopping at the "dots" shown on the pattern piece. The pockets are pinned and sewn just to the top skirt layer - do not sew through both layers. Use a zipper foot to stitch each pocket in place

Place the bottom skirt layer right side up on your work surface.

Place the top skirt layer, also right side up, on top of the bottom, aligning the top raw edges of both panels. Pin in place.

To gather the top edge of the panels, run one or two lines of basting across the panels, keeping the the basting within the ½" seam allowance. Remember, don't lock either end of your seam.

Waistband

Fold the waistband strip in half wrong sides together (2½" x 22") and press to set a center crease.

Unfold, wrong side up, so the crease line is visible.

Place the interfacing strip on the bottom half, aligning one edge along the center crease. This will leave ½" of fabric visible on both sides and along the bottom edge. Following manufacturer's directions, fuse the interfacing in place.

Along the the top half, fold back the 22" raw edge ½" and press.

Flip over the waistband so it is right side up and flat on your work surface.

Find the waist ties.

Place the raw end of one tie right sides together with the raw sides of the waistband. The ties should be pleated slightly to narrow their ends to fit the waistband.

Align one folded edge of the tie against the waistband's center crease. Place the opposite folded edge ½" from the waistband's raw edge. Pin each folded edge in place on the waistband.

Pinch the excess tie fabric and fold it down towards the waistband's raw edge.

Fold the waistband right sides together, encasing the ties between the layers. The folded edge of the waistband should now be aligned with the bottom folded edge of the tie. Pin in place.

Using a ½" seam allowance stitch each side of the waistband, securing the ties.

Turn the waistband right side out. Pull the ties out into position on either side. There should be a ½" free raw edge along the waistband.

Find the gathered skirt panels.

Place the waistband right sides together against the skirt panels, aligning the remaining raw edge of the waistband with the top raw edges of the skirt panels. Adjust the gathers as needed to fit the waistband. Pin in place.

Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch across the top of the skirt through all the layers.

Press the seam allowance up towards the waistband.

Bring the folded edge of the waistband down into place, covering the seam you just made. Pin in place.

Hand stitch the folded edge of the waistband into place. We used a whip stitch.

Pockets

Find the four pocket pieces and the two pocket interfacing pieces.

Following manufacturer's instructions, fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of two of the pocket pieces.

Cut two 30" lengths of piping.

Pin a length of piping to the right side of the two remaining, non-interfaced pocket pieces.

To connect the piping ends, use a seam ripper to open up the piping fabric on one end.

Trim back this end so it butts together perfectly with the opposite end.

Fold back the piping fabric and overlap the ends.

Pin in place.

Using a Zipper foot, baste the piping in place.

Place a interfaced pocket piece and a piped pocket piece right sides together. Pin in place, leaving a 2" opening along one side. Repeat with the two remaining pocket pieces.

Using a Zipper foot, stitch the layers together, staying as close to the piping as possible. Lock your seam on either side of the 2" opening left for turning.

Turn the pocket right side out through the 2" opening.

Press well, pressing in the raw edges of the opening so they are flush with sewn seam.

Hand stitch the opening closed, concealing your stitches next to the piping.

Repeat to complete the second pocket.

Lay the pattern on top of each pocket. There are dots indicating where you will stop and start when sewing the pocket to the skirt. Place a pin at these dots on each pocket.

Attaching the pockets to the skirt

NOTE: If you've been reading along, you know we chose to put on our pockets at this point in order to very precisely center and angle each against the finished skirt panels. The pre-gathering measurements are given above should you chose the alternate method.

The measurements are essentially the same a noted above: the pockets sit at a slight angle with the bottom of the pocket 2" from the bottom of the first pleat. The outer edges are 6⅜" from the side hems and the inner edges are 5½" from the center of the skirt. However, by placing the pockets in position at this point, you can adjust them to look their very best against the finished gathers.

Pin each pocket in place, starting and stopping at the "dots" shown on the pattern piece. The pockets are pinned and sewn just to the top skirt layer - do not sew through both layers.

Use a Zipper foot to stitch each pocket in place, staying right along the piping. Remember to start and stop at the pin points.

Fold the loose top of the pocket down into position. Place the pattern piece over the folded edge and mark the position of the button.

Transfer the mark to the pocket.

Hand stitch the button in place through all the layers of the pocket. This stitched button is what holds the folded top of the pocket in place.

Final hem

Thread your hand sewing needle with thread to match the bottom layer of the skirt and hand stitch the top edge of the facing in place.

Comments (15)

daisygirl said:

I made this apron in the beginning of this year. Love it! The only thing I've changed was pockets - I didn't use piping, thought it would be too heavy. I wish I could add a picture of my beautiful apron.

This is a really pretty apron. I am going to attempt to resize it for my 8 year old daughter. It will be a Valentine's Day gift. It will give me an opportunity to brush up on my sewing skills. The tutorial and associated photos look very clear. I love the piping around the pockets. I think my dd will love the fabric also. Thank you for this!